Share Share  |  E-mail  |  Print  |  Text Size

header
A publication of the Aurora University Spartan Club — Summer 2008

With summer upon us, most student-athletes are at home--most likely working, taking a summer course or if they are really lucky, on vacation. Yet each student-athlete is probably staying active in his or her sport and anticipating another successful, yet challenging season as a member of an AU team. This issue of Spartan Report offers a summary of the past few months of athletic competition. As always, we thank you for your continued support and welcome your feedback.

Stories in this Issue:

Spartan Academics and Athletics Thriving
Throughout the years, Aurora University has built an athletic program characterized by top-notch student-athletes. The 2007-2008 season was another year marked by numerous accomplishments and honors. AU produced two Academic All-Americans; 10 Academic All-District athletes; 111 Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) scholar-athletes; four NAC team championships; six NAC Players of the Year; four NAC Rookies of the Year; five NAC Coaches of the Year; numerous All-Conference and All-Region players; the NAC All-Sports Championship for men’s teams; and a second place showing for the women in the All-Sports Championship contest. The year also brought about three NCAA national tournament appearances and one student-athlete at the Track and Field NCAA championships.

The success of Spartan student-athletes gives good reason for our continued efforts to provide first-class athletic facilities. Last fall, the City of Aurora and AU announced a plan to bring baseball back home to Auurora after a three-year absence. The new partnership provides the Spartan baseball team with a home field located in Aurora, and access to numerous other fields for practice purposes. The new home field is Solfisburg Park and is located off of Ohio Street, just north of New York Street.

A new football and soccer field is currently under construction on the AU campus. The improved field will be made of synthetic turf, and will include a new press box, various storage facilities, restrooms and increased parking capacity. The facility will be ready for the upcoming fall athletic season.

AU Athletes of the Year
The Aurora University Athletic Department named its 2007–2008 male and female Athletes of the Year at the annual Spartan Sports Spring Banquet last month. The awards, as voted on by members of the AU Athletic Department, were presented to sophomore men’s track and field and football student-athlete Adrian Kibiersza (Des Plaines, IL/Maine West H.S.) and senior women’s softball third baseman Dana Cebular (Brookfield, IL/Riverside-Brookfield H.S.).

On hand to honor these two fine student-athletes were Lora de Lacey, Acting Vice President for Student Life; and Mark Walsh, Director of Athletics; members of the spring sports teams and their families and friends; as well as Men’s Track and Field Head Coach James Kluckhohn and Softball Head Coach Mike McKenzie. 

Kluckhohn led the festivities by announcing the Male Athlete of the Year recipient, sophomore student-athlete Adrian Kibiersza. Kibiersza, a two-sport athlete at AU, was named Northern Athletics Conference Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field, Field-Athlete of the Meet at both the indoor and outdoor championships. He won the indoor shot put championship and was the outdoor champion in the shot put and discus. He was also named Illini-Badger Football Conference First-Team All-Conference in football as an offensive lineman. In his freshman season, Kibiersza became the first AU track and field athlete to compete at the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships when he qualified in the shot put and discus.

 

 

 

McKenzie announced the Female Athlete of the Year winner, senior women’s softball standout third baseman Dana Cebular. The Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) Softball Player of the Year, National Fastpitch Coaches Association First-Team All-Region, NAC All-Conference recipient and CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic First-Team All-American and First-Team All-District.

Cebular continued to re-write the Spartan record books. She has established new marks in career home runs (38), doubles (46), hits (255), singles (154), at bats (601), runs batted in (159) and games played/started (184).  She holds single-season records in home runs (11 in 2005 and 2008), total bases (130 in 2007), runs scored (60 in 2007) and games played/started (49 in 2006). In her final season as a Spartan, Cebular had a .510 batting average with 11 home runs, five triples, seven doubles, 44 runs batted in and 54 runs scored.  She had a .850 slugging percentage with a .595 on-base percentage. 

 

 

 

 

 

Spartan Softball Continues Excellence 
The Aurora University softball team recently concluded its stellar 2008 season in which they captured a Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) regular season championship, a NAC tournament championship, and an NCAA regional appearance. The Spartans' 37-8 record pushed Head Coach Mike McKenzie’s career record at AU to 179-44-1.

Coach McKenzie’s squad was led by senior third baseman Dana Cebular who was named First-Team All-NAC, NAC Player of the Year, First-Team NFCA All-Region, First-Team ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America and All-District. On the season, Cebular hit .510 with 11 homeruns, 44 RBIs, 54 runs scored, and 125 total bases. She holds career records in homeruns (38), doubles (46), hits (255), singles (154), at bats (601), runs batted in (159) and games played/started (184). While also holding single season records in home runs (11 in 2005 and 2008), total bases (130 in 2007), runs scored (60 in 2007) and games played/started (49 in 2006). 

Cebular was not the only Spartan to earn postseason recognition, as AU placed a total of four players on various All-Region teams. Freshman Shannon Starr was named First-Team NFCA All-Region as well as being named First-Team All-NAC and earning a spot on the NAC All-Rookie Team. Sophomore pitcher Anna Snyder was named Second-Team NFCA All-Region, while also earning First-Team All-NAC honors and winning the NAC Pitcher of the Year Award. Junior Nikki Veen earned the honor of Third-Team NFCA All-Region while also being named First-Team All-NAC. For their efforts, junior Abby Young was named Second-Team All-NAC and freshman Gabby Smith was named to the NAC All-Rookie Team.

Led by a group of talented core players, the Spartans traveled to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire to participate in the NCAA Tournament. AU fell in the opener to UW-Oshkosh, but was able to rebound and win its next two games against North Central College and Simpson College. Unfortunately for the Spartans, UW-Oshkosh would, once again, get the better of them in the next round by defeating AU 2-1 and ending the Spartan 2008 season.

Spartan Baseball Team Concludes Another Winning Season
The Aurora University baseball team recently finished its 2008 season in which the Spartans compiled a stellar 25-15 record and a 15-7 Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) record. Unfortunately, the team just missed advancing to the NAC Tournament but Head Coach Shaun Neitzel’s 2008 squad still had an impressive and exciting season.  

Sophomore center-fielder Tony Wellner led the Spartans during the 2008 campaign, as he compiled 23 doubles on route to breaking former First-Team All-American Aaron Thor’s 2006 record of 22. Wellner hit .365 on the season while collecting five home runs and 38 RBIs. He was also named Honorable Mention All Northern Athletics Conference and Second-Team ABCA-Rawlings All-Central Region.

Joining Wellner as a Second-Team All-Region selection was junior shortstop Josh Damore. All-NAC Honorable Mention selections were sophomore Steve Salazar and junior Martin Diaz.

Damore, from Grayslake, IL, hit .381 with 51 runs scored, 11 doubles, seven home runs, 33 runs batted in, a .600 slugging percentage, a .455 on-base percentage, 17 base on balls and 13 stolen bases. 

Salazar, a starting pitcher from Carol Stream, IL, compiled a 5-2 record with a 3.75 ERA. He also collected 50 strikeouts compared to only 14 walks. Diaz, a first baseman from nearby West Aurora High School, hit .353 on the season to go along with 48 hits, 10 doubles, and two home runs. He hit .436 in NAC play.

AU’s 2008 season was a successful one that holds much promise for the 2009 campaign. Next year, the Spartans will return seven of eight position players to go along with most of their pitching staff.

Spartan Student-Athlete Spotlight 
Ross Brennan, Sports Information Department
Senior from DeKalb, Illinois
Political Science Major

Why did you choose to attend AU and get involved with athletics?
Because of the reputation of the college and athletic program.

What do you like most about your team sport?
The fact that Joe Crede (Chicago White Sox player) plays it.

What benefits have you gained from participating in athletics here at AU?
As both a player and a sports information student-worker, I have been able to develop great friendships and good time management skills.

What has been the most memorable sports moment thus far?
Watching the softball team come back and beat Elmhurst College at the end of the regular season this year was intense. A couple of homers with AU losing in the eighth inning were needed, but AU won.

How does AU’s Division III level of athletic competition blend with the other aspects of your collegiate lifestyle? 
It has worked out very well for me because once I got hurt, I was able to stay active in athletics by working for Brian Kipley, AU Sports Information Director. That was an easy transition and has really improved my college experience.

Which class has been your favorite here at AU?
"Politics, Society and Culture" taught by Deb Kennedy.

Which AU sport (not counting your own) do you most enjoy watching? 
Since I don't play it anymore, baseball. It's more fun and exciting now that a field is in Aurora (Solfisburg Park).

What is your favorite campus-sponsored extracurricular activity? 
Pancake night. No question about it.

What do you enjoy about AU’s location?
Its proximity to the train station is very convenient. Also, the neighborhood surrounding AU makes for a very peaceful and easy-going atmosphere.

What is your favorite time of the year at AU?
Weekends in the fall.

What’s the last movie you saw?
“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls.”

What's the last book you read?
I am currently readng "Honor's Voice" by Lincoln scholar Douglas Wilson.

What's currently playing in your Mp3 player?
Steely Dan.

What type of music do you like the most?
I like all types of older, classic rock.

Ten years from today, where do you see yourself?
Working and making some money to pay off loans.

Spartan Track and Field Finishes another Successful Season
The Aurora University men’s track and field team recently finished an impressive 2008 season. The two seasons, one for indoor competition and one for outdoor competition, were highlighted by second-place finishes in both the Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) indoor and outdoor championships.

In late February, AU competed in the NAC indoor championships in Kenosha, WI. The Spartans finished as runners-up to the champion Raiders of the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Despite the second-place finish, AU still managed to win four separate events. Eric Scott won the 55-meter dash; Adrian Kibiersza won the shot put; Jeff Fellers won the pole vault; and the team of Jesus Aguilar, Scott Anderson, David Byrne, and Jeff Fellers won the distance medley.

At the end of the outdoor season, and after AU had notched a second-place finish at the NAC outdoor championships, AU had one athlete earn a bid to the NCAA National Championships hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. On May 22, sophomore Adrian Kibiersza finished ninth out of 16 qualifying competitors with a throw of 49.22 meters (161’6”) in the discus finals. He reached the finals of the discus after making a throw of 48.53 meters (159’2”) in the first round. His throw of 49.22 meters in the finals broke his own AU record. In the shot put on May 24, he finished 10th out of 16 qualifying competitors with a throw 15.45 meters (50’8-1/4”).

The track and field team’s successful seasons leave members excited for next year. Numerous key figures will return to the squad. With the continued growth of the AU track program, the future looks bright for the Spartans. 

 

Women’s Track and Field Completes Stellar Season
The Aurora University women’s track and field team earned numerous awards on its way to finishing second place at both the indoor and outdoor Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) championships.

Morgan Jacquette led the Spartans by winning individual conference titles in the indoor 1600-meter run, indoor 3000-meter run, indoor 5000-meter run, outdoor 1500-meter run, outdoor 5000-meter run, and outdoor 10000-meter run. Jacquette was awarded both the indoor and outdoor NAC Runner of the Year awards.

Stephanie Deluca earned the NAC Outdoor Rookie of the Year Award after winning the individual conference title in the javelin throw.

Other conference winners for the Spartans include Kristen Renninger in the 3000-meter steeplechase (outdoor); Elissa Decker in the shot put and discuss (outdoor); Sarah Brennan in the hammer throw (outdoor) and weight throw (indoor); and the distance medley team of Megan Cinto, Jenn Ginter, Lisa Guzman and Morgan Jacquette (indoor). All the awards and individual titles serve as proof that the women’s track and field team had a very successful season under the guidance of Coach Kluckhohn in 2008.

Spartans In Action!

Return to Top

347 South Gladstone Avenue
Aurora, Illinois 60506-4892
630-892-6431
800-742-5281